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Barry Wade receives Duke of Edinburgh award for technical achievement

One of the world's foremost experts on radar technology has received a prestigious award from the Council of the Royal Institute of Navigation.

Barry Wade, Director of Surveillance Systems at leading global radar innovator Kelvin Hughes, has been honoured with the Duke of Edinburgh's Navigation Award for Technical Achievement.

The award has been instituted to mark the 90th birthday of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron of the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN), and recognises Mr Wade's achievement in leading the design of the SharpEye™ marine radar.

For over 60 years, commercial marine navigation radar transceivers have employed a magnetron oscillator to generate the high power microwaves transmitted. Magnetrons are also used in a variety of other applications including microwave cookers.

Kelvin Hughes' innovative SharpEye™ system, which has obtained type approval for both S and X-Band, replaces the magnetron with solid-state technology, and brings benefits including enhanced performance and reliability.

Captain Peter Chapman-Andrews, director of the RIN, said: "Navigation encompasses the science, the technology and the practice of getting from A-B on land, in the air, on seas and rivers, and in space. The RIN exists to study, to practice and to inform the public about one of the broadest and most diverse subjects in the world".

"We instituted the award this year in recognition of His Royal Highness' 90th birthday in order to reward the person who has made an outstanding technical achievement in relation to navigation. Barry was an extremely worthy winner in recognition of his work in leading the design of the SharpEye™ marine radar".

Barry Wade said: "I am both honoured and extremely surprised to have received this award. I would like to thank the RIN and The Duke of Edinburgh for their recognition and also my colleagues at Kelvin Hughes for their hard work and dedication in making SharpEye™ a reality".

Russell Gould, chief executive of Kelvin Hughes, added: "We are very proud of Barry and we have long regarded him as the leading global authority on radar technology. The fact that he has received this unique award means his efforts and expertise have been recognised on a much wider scale".